UPTON - The town will be looking to formalize the way it deals with private roads in town both in terms of maintenance and plowing.

Town Manager Blythe Robinson spoke about the issue at Monday's Board of Selectmen meeting. She said it had been raised when a resident of a private way made inquiries about picking up materials from the Department of Public Works to make road repairs.

Robinson said the DPW director forwarded the matter to her, and she had discussions with that resident. She said her research had revealed that the town could not legally conduct repairs on the roads, unless residents approved a bylaw allowing it to do so.

Shore Drive resident Christopher Sandini spoke at the meeting, saying the arrangement, wherein a resident picks up materials to repair the road, had been in place for a long time.

"Were this to be such an egregious violation, you would think, after so many years, someone would have said something," he said. "The Legislature has been petitioned by certain cities and towns to allow regular repairs to any street as if it were a public way."

Selectman Ken Picard said, just because something had been done in the past, that did not mean it was necessarily proper.

Robinson said the situation led her to research the snowplowing and maintenance of private roads.

"At the town election in 2001, the voters had passed a section of law on the ballot that the town could plow private ways," she said. "We don't have a policy on which roads we do plow, and which we don't."

Robinson suggested the town draft a formalized policy on the two issues, so that services could be applied equitably. Picard said this was not an attempt by the town to avoid its responsibilities, but to standardize treatment.

"It's the town's intent not to abandon these people," he said. "If something happens on a road, and (emergency services) need to get by, we will make sure they can get by."

Sandini said he felt the town should have to plow any street open to public use.

The board said it would continue to have discussions.

"I think our intent is to be as fair as possible," board Chairman Robert Fleming said. "At the same time, it's not always popular, but it's our responsibility to protect the town in general."

Mike Gleason can be reached at 508-634-7546 or mgleason@wickedlocal.com. For news throughout the day, follow him on Twitter @MGleason_MDN.